Funding supports farming couple’s vision to make stream a haven for native birds and plants
Gemma Barker and her husband Hayden Barker have a dream of comprehensively restoring an area of Papaka Stream that runs through their sheep and beef farm in Levels Valley, South Canterbury.
It’s a dream that just became a lot easier for the couple, who started running the farm about 16 years ago. That’s thanks to their successful application for $28,863 from our Canterbury Water Management Strategy (CWMS) Action Plan Fund.
Key facts
South Canterbury farmers Gemma and Hayden Barker have received $28,863 from the Canterbury Water Management Strategy Action Plan Fund.
The funding will restore a section of Papaka Stream in Levels Valley.
The project includes native planting and fencing to improve water quality and habitat.
The work will help protect Canterbury mudfish (Kōwaro) and support native birdlife.
For 2025/26, the CWMS Action Plan Fund will allocate a combined total of $500,000 to a range of environmental projects across Waitaha Canterbury that improve water quality, restore habitats and strengthen kaitiakitanga.
Gemma and Hayden's goal is to help Papaka Stream become a haven for native birds, like bellbirds. They hope the restoration project will also enhance the habitat for Canterbury mudfish (Kōwaro) and their numbers will grow.
The stream is a tributary of the Waitarakao Lagoon, an important coastal feature due to its rare geomorphology, native ecological habitats, biodiversity and cultural and historical values.
“We just like native plants and trying to bring some birdlife in is the main thing up around our house. We’re quite keen to get some bellbirds along if we can.” Gemma said.
The restoration work Gemma and Hayden will use the funding for will complement several hectares of self-funded native planting they’ve already done on their farm.
“We’ve put quite a lot of money into planting natives ourselves, but this funding is a nice boost along to complete something that would have been a major financial undertaking. So, it is great to get a project of this scale done”, Gemma said.
How Papaka Stream restoration will improve water quality
It’s hoped the combination of fencing and native planting will significantly reduce erosion and sediment discharge into Papaka Stream in the medium and long-term. This will benefit water quality in downstream areas of the stream and the Waitarakao Lagoon, where sedimentation can occur.
The native planting, protected by fencing, aims to provide a significant habitat area for native biodiversity, including native birds and insects.
Recently, Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) senior biodiversity advisor, Jenna Hughes-Games set fish traps to see what was living in Papaka Stream, before starting work removing some willows.
She found a small population of Canterbury mudfish living in a pond almost completely covered in red Azolla rubra, a native aquatic fern.
The discovery meant the team adjusted their plans and made sure no work took place where the mudfish were found.
Working together to restore Papaka Stream
Gemma and Hayden are teaming up with Our Waitarakao to carry out the work. Our Waitarakao is a partnership project between Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, the Department of Conservation, Timaru District Council and Environment Canterbury.
The Our Waitarakao team will supply Gemma and Hayden with expert advice, assist with the facilitation of works and help fund the cost of the native plants. The plants will be sourced from local nurseries.
Senior biodiversity advisor Jenna Hughes-Games and landowner, Gemma Barker are pictured with Canterbury mudfish (Kōwaro) found in Papaka Stream.
More projects delivering environmental benefits
The Papaka Stream restoration project is just one of 38 selected for the latest round of funding from our contestable CWMS Action Plan Fund. Many more environmental projects across Waitaha are also receiving funding from our Waitaha Action to Impact Fund and Christchurch and Banks Peninsula Biodiversity Fund.
Environment Canterbury Deputy Chair Iaean Cranwell said the projects selected for funding demonstrate the value of investing in community-led environmental action across our region.
“These projects reflect the strong commitment that landowners, community groups and mana whenua have to improving the health of our waterways and natural environments. Through the Canterbury Water Management Strategy and our environmental funding programmes, we are supporting locally led solutions that contribute to regional outcomes for water quality, biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
“By working in partnership with communities, we can achieve lasting environmental benefits that support both current and future generations across Waitaha Canterbury.”
See descriptions of all the projects being funded and their environmental benefits on our community funding page.